For Greenville resident Twanja Windley, her favorite memories of USC Upstate are the Gospel Choir, working with Opportunity Network, and spending time with friends on campus. Her biggest accomplishment since graduation has been to change the direction of her life from the environment she grew up in to publishing a book. She has a goal to show people that believing in yourself can take you very far.

Since graduating in December of 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration she has published a book about God and dedicated it to her favorite professor from Upstate, Dr. Donald Yates. Professor Yates had quite an impression on her. He once told her that in life “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” She felt all of her professors at Upstate shared their life experiences with her and planted seeds that she has been able to use and hang on to.

She is currently working in the ITS department of Blue Cross Blue Shield where she processes claims. Very involved in her church, Twanja is currently serving on a committee that is in the developmental stages of opening a charter school, and she is part of a job connection ministry.

The University of South Carolina Upstate is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and masters degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of USC Upstate. Comments or Complaints?